Chapter 221 Compensation And Reward



A/N: Guess I did it faster than I thought.

****

[The longer that you have a free skill slot to select a skill, the better the skill that you would receive in the future. Host, please keep that in mind.]

Jack: "…..F*CK!"

Jack couldn't help but curse at the system for the first time as long as he could remember. This was the first time that if he could, he really wished that he could get a hold of Angel and give him or…it, a beating that it deserved.

[There's no need for you to throw profanities around. I was just giving you a suggestion. There's no need to thank me, but you are welcome anyway.]

"Reminder your father! Suggestion your grandfather! Thank your head!" Jack cursed further, this time, he was even louder that he was before. If there was someone around his villa, that person would have surely been scared by the loud voice that reverberated throughout the whole villa.

[….???]

The system didn't reply to Jack's cursing at all. This agitated Jack further. He really wanted to just pull the system from wherever in his head it was located, then, he would pull that guide that called itself angel, he would then strangle it while hitting it on the head to make sure that the brain that wasn't in position got back in place.

All the same, knowing that there was nothing that he could do than to vent his anger and frustration using his words, Jack let out a deep sigh before asking.

'Angel, why didn't you tell me such a crucial detail before I used the chance that I had gotten before?'

[Eh? Was I supposed to tell you that?]

'Of course you f*cking were supposed to tell me such an important thing the moment that I received the reward. Why else are you called a guide if you can't even guide me on the ways to utilize the system to the maximum.

[To utilize the system to the maximum, you'll first have to start by upgrading the level of your authority to the second level….]

'Just shut that already. You said that I would be able to access more features in the future as long as I upgraded my level of authority, I know that! So, don't try changing the topic, just tell me why you didn't tell me such a crucial detail?' Jack interrupted the guide from continuing.

[You should know the basics. Just like wine, the longer that it stays, the better it becomes in terms of quality, taste and as a result, there is an increase in price.]

'Oh yeah? You should know the basics as well. If you keep milk for a long time, it will end up having its shelf life coming to an end. And not to mention an increase in price, I doubt that there is someone that would be willing to pay a cent for that milk!' Jack retorted.

[Host, please don't relate the system rewards to foodstuffs.]

'Talking as if wine isn't considered part of food.' Jack didn't back down at all.

[….]

Jack was breathing heavily at this point. It might seem that he was just coming from a marathon. But instead, he was just so angry that his breathing had gotten so ragged.

If he had known that there was such a thing, were the wine principal was applied, he really wouldn't have wasted the skill slot that he had just utilized.

Yes, he now considered that he had simply wasted the skill slot that he had been given as a reward for the first income in the basketball game.

If he had known about the wine principal, he would have made sure to keep the reward that he ad received from the system as long as possible. In this way, in case there would be an emergency, he would be able to use that slot to acquire better skills.

As for how he was going to handle Collins and his family, there was Denali. He could have used her computer mastery so that he could do whatever he was planning on doing.

As for what Denali was busy with, he could have replaced her with Ayush or he might have as well have done it himself. At the end of the day, just a few hours or a day of working wasn't something that he couldn't afford, right?

And, this was to consider that there was a good reward that came with the 'sacrifice' that he would have to make. So, he didn't think that this was hard at all.

But now, the chance was gone. It was something that he had already utilized. So, he didn't think that he could get the slot back….

Jack's thoughts paused for a moment as he reached this point. 'Angel, is it possible for you to take back the computer mastery that the system just granted me?'

'Angel, I would like to acquire the same skill, computer mastery.'

[Confirm that you want to use the free skill slot for computer mastery?]

'Confirm that.'

[Confirmed. The skill slot is used. Computer mastery acquired….Ingraining the skill into the hosts mind and body….The host will feel slightly uncomfortable.]

Jack: "?$#@?"

Jack stated blankly at the screen that was floating in front of him. It was displaying the conversation that they had been having, he and Angel, just before he acquired the new skill…that he was no longer so happy about.

"Is the system experiencing micro failures or macro failures? I think this might be…" Jack's words were interrupted by the system's guide.

[That was the conversation that we had during the time that you had decided that you wanted to use skill slot that was available to you.]

"So?" Jack inquired.

[As you can see, I asked for your confirmation first. That means that the decision was irreversible once it was taken. That was the exact reason as to why I had to make sure that you were sure about your choice and give you a chance to change it in case you thought that it wouldn't be a good choice.]

Jack: "…"

'Aren't you an almighty guide of the almighty system? Don't tell me that you can't reverse the situation where the skill that was granted to me could be taken back so that I can receive my skill slot back?' Jack taunted.

[Who said that it's impossible to do that. It's just that, the process of doing that is painful. Furthermore, this might have an impact on your memories as well as your body.]

Upon receiving the system's reply, Jack immediately threw away the thought of having the system undo what was already done.

There was one thing that he knew for sure. It was that, the system, for some reason, it was understating things. It said that he would feel slightly uncomfortable. In the end, even with his improved mentality, he had felt very uncomfortable.

Now that it was saying that it would be painful, and not slightly painful, Jack believed that this kind of pain wasn't something that a mere mortal like him to could handle.

Then, an effect on his memories and body, since there was also no mention of 'slight', Jack didn't dare to take the gamble. He might end up forgetting about everything that he currently knew.

As for his body, would it become elastic? Would it break down, maybe the cellular state of his body would be altered! That was another thing that he didn't want to risk at all.

But, although he had given up on the matter of gaining back the slot, that didn't mean that he had given up on making sure that he got the benefits that he deserved.

'Now then, that's not my fault. Why would I want to suffer when I'm not the one that made the mistake? Still, you have to look for a way to compensate me for this.' Jack said with great resolve.

[….]

The system went silent. Seconds passed, a minute went by, still no sound from the system. Another minute went by, there was still nothing. Five minutes went by, Jack began getting impatient.

Just as ten minutes were about to elapse, Jack decided that he couldn't hold it anymore and decided to test to see whether the system was present or not.

But before he could even form the words in his mind, another system prompt appeared in front of him alongside Angel's voice that echoed in his mind.

[The corrections have been made. The operation of the system had been slightly been altered due to the changes that have been made on the system program.]

[Since the host was able to spot the mistake that was made by the system's guide, the system has decided to not only offer compensation, but to offer a reward as well for the corrections that have been made.]

Before Jack could even understand what was going on, another system prompt appeared.

[You have been rewarded two more skill slots. And, the conditions of the slots are exactly the same as the one that the host utilized.]

eaglesnovɐ1,сoМ [In other words, if the host decides to use any of the two slots that have been granted to him to acquire computer mastery, he would be able to get the computer mastery at the same level as the one that he currently posses.]

Jack went silent for a few seconds. Then, a broad smile bloomed on his face. Although it would have been even better with three skill slots that could continue improving the level of the skills that he could draw next, it wasn't bad to have two, right?

Kidding. Jack was completely ecstatic that, not only had he maintained the skill that he had received from the system, but he had also gotten two more slots that he could use to acquire even more skills.

It was just that this time, he wasn't planning on using any of the skill slots that easily. As long as there was an alternative, he would definitely seek the alternative so that he could continue buying more time for the skills to evolve.

'System, you are indeed an almighty system. Angel, you are a good guide as well. So, you'll have to make sure that you maintain your image as the best system guide.' Jack chuckled as he flattered.

No sooner had Jack completed what he was saying than he received another system's prompt that made his expression turn.